I The Nature and purposes of the Society
The Orthodox Society of Saint Basil is a congregation of secular (non-monastic) Orthodox Catholics – including those who worship according to Eastern and Oriental rites – united for the greater glory of God, the sanctification of their own souls, and the support, affirmation, and propagation of Orthodoxy in the Western Rite.
Members of the Society have for many years been drawn from autonomous sacramental churches that are separate and independent from the ancient patriarchates of the east. There are, however, no inherent or implied restrictions or impediments to members from any of the various sacramental jurisdictions.
II The Society’s Life and the Obligations of Membership
Members of the Society aspire to a type of active spirituality – grace operative in the world, not apart from it – framed in the liturgical tradition of the west, according to the counsels of patience, sincerity, and stability, expressed by regular service of the Opus Dei, and nourished by frequent recourse to Holy Scriptures and the sacraments.
Its life is ideally realized in the worshipping community, though its members do not normally live in community. All members strive to engage daily in Lectio Divina and study of the Holy Scriptures, along with regular service of the Liturgy of the Hours (The Daily Office) and the Divine Liturgy (The Mass) on Sundays and greater holy days according to their stations. Members pray daily for the members of the Society and stand ready to offer mutual support, encouragement, and confidential pastoral care to one another. Priests of the Society earnestly strive to celebrate the Divine Liturgy daily.
The Society feels that an intelligent, congenial, compassionate presentation of the apostolic catholic faith will sympathetically promote the liturgical heritage of western Christendom, while acknowledging the enduring beauty and excellence of all the liturgies of the Christian East. The character and needs of each local worshipping community will of course be the final determining factor with respect to the tradition, form, rite, or usage of liturgical worship.
The usual habit of the Society is standard western choir dress. Members may wear clerical attire when not prevented from doing so, and when engaged in work on behalf of the Society or of the local church community.
III Requirements for Membership
Candidates for membership in the Society must be chrismated Orthodox Catholics of good character and demonstrable emotional and mental stability, sincere and regular in the performance of their religious duties, and zealous for the Orthodox Catholic faith as understood and practiced by the Society.
The Society maintains a policy of openness, inclusion, and affirmation, accepting members without restrictions based on marital status, military status, employment, income, political orientation, national origin, citizenship, race, liturgical rite, ecclesial jurisdiction, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, or disability,
Full membership should be preceded by a novitiate of at least one year, during which the novice conforms to the obligations of full membership, makes regular reports of his or her spiritual and academic studies, and is examined at intervals. Upon completion of the novitiate, the novice may be voted upon by the Chapter, and with its consent, and the approval of the Superior, may be admitted to membership. For good reason, the novitiate may be terminated, or it may be temporarily interrupted with the permission of the Superior.
A member who has not been in communication with the Superior for a period of one year will be placed in inactive status and can be restored to active membership after consultation with the Superior.
IV Degrees of Membership
Full membership in the Society is a life-long dedication under solemn vows to live according to its Rule.
Associate membership: friends of the Society who wish to enter a secondary relationship with it, but who are unable or do not feel called to accept the responsibilities of full membership, may be received as associates upon a simple promise to share in its duties so long as circumstances permit. Associate membership may be terminated at will. But during the period of association the obligations of full membership should be followed.
An associate who aspires to full membership may be considered to have served a novitiate concurrent with his or her association if approved by the Chapter and the Superior.
V Holy Orders
Members above the subdiaconate are members of the Chapter.
Members of the Society who are priests or bishops earnestly strive to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on a daily basis unless prevented by other obligations or circumstances.
VI Areas of Jurisdiction and Officers
The Superior-General of the Society is its spiritual director and executive, and ordinarily serves as Bishop at the Cathedral of Saint Basil in Antioch, Tennessee.
The Chapter comprises all clergy above the subdiaconate. It may vote upon the eligibility of candidate for membership and conducts the spiritual affairs of the Society.
When the best interests of the Society will be served by doing so, the Superior may appoint Provincials to administer local affairs.